Uzbek-American relations correspond to the spirit of mutual understanding

Saturday, 4 December 2010

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Oqsaroy residence on 2 December.

Uzbekistan and the United States have been pursuing a constructive dialogue on a wide range of issues, which contribute to developing a qualitatively new stage of bilateral relations in the political, economic, humanitarian and other fields.

Welcoming the guest, President of Uzbekistan highly evaluated the dynamics of the Uzbek-American relations in various areas, which correspond to the spirit of partnership and mutual understanding.

“We highly value relations that have formed between Uzbekistan and the United States,” Islam Karimov said. “I hope today we will have a good opportunity to exchange opinions on the bilateral relations, regional problems and issues that represent interest to both sides.”

Expressing sincere gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for warm reception, the Secretary of State confirmed the commitment of the US administration to the principles of mutual respect in the bilateral relations.

“Mr President! Let me thank you for your kind words and this opportunity to discuss important issues representing mutual interest,” Hillary Clinton said. “President Barack Obama also attaches great importance to the discussion of the most important sides of our bilateral relations. I am glad that the representatives of our official delegations will be able to consider a wide range of issues.”

Uzbekistan and the US have been strengthening bilateral contacts in the issues of ensuring regional security, including counteracting international terrorism, preventing drug trafficking and protecting state borders. Both sides have on a constant basis been exchanging experience in this direction, organizing trainings for specialists in the framework of various programs.

If we translate this from the diplomatic Newspeak of two regimes with blood on their hands into plain English, then it turns out that Ms Clinton basically says: Best friend Karimov, carry on torturing and killing opponents as many as you like. As long as you help our war in Afghanistan, we could not care less. Only if you would stop that help, then we would suddenly discover that you are a dictator.

10 thoughts on “Uzbek dictator, friend of Hillary Clinton”

Kazakhstan: The authorities have released a communist activist from a psychiatric clinic two days after he was detained following his involvement in a protest.

Aleksandr Bondarenko’s wife Larisa said that he had been taken to the clinic on Monday after he and several other communists rallied against the local authorities’ decision to remove a Lenin monument from Qaraghandy city centre.

Fellow communist activist Andrei Tsukanov was sentenced to seven days in jail for resisting the police.

Target often offers prices that seem too good to be true – so how do they keep their prices so low?

It turns out some of Target’s products might be so cheap because they are made with slave-picked cotton from Uzbekistan and/or purchased from Daewoo International, a company that accounts for approximately 20% of all cotton processed in Uzbekistan.

Tell Target to sign the Daewoo Protocol to fight modern slavery in Uzbekistan.

Thanks for all you do!

Bob Fertik

—
Walk Free: The Movement to End Modern Slavery

Dear Activist,

We know – a great deal can be hard to resist. And Target often offers prices that seem too good to be true. It makes you think – how do they keep their prices so low? We’ve recently learned that some of Target’s products might be so cheap because they are made with slave-picked cotton from Uzbekistan and/or purchased from Daewoo International, a company that accounts for approximately 20% of all cotton processed in Uzbekistan.

Every year, during the harvest season, over a million children and adults – including teachers, nurses and doctors – are ripped out of their homes, schools and jobs, and forced to work in the cotton fields of Uzbekistan to meet daily picking quotas.

While Target has signed the pledge to not buy slave-picked Uzbek cotton, they are still doing business with Daewoo, a company that clearly profits from the exploitation of children and adults in Uzbekistan.

If Target is truly serious about keeping slavery out of its stores, Target needs to stop doing business with Daewoo and agree to implement the Daewoo Protocol – a series of steps companies need to take to eliminate slave-picked cotton from their supply chains.

Call on Target to eliminate the threat of slave-picked cotton in their stores by joining the Daewoo Protocol.

We expect more from Target, a company that takes pride in holding the highest ethical standards for itself and for its business partners.

So we called and asked Target to join the Daewoo Protocol which is supported by retailers declining to do business with Daewoo until it takes serious steps to stop sourcing slave-picked Uzbek cotton.

Target said they didn’t need to sign the Daewoo Protocol because they have a “No Uzbek Cotton” policy. But such a policy only works if you’re willing to enforce it.

Tell Target to sign the Daewoo Protocol and stop supporting modern slavery in Uzbekistan.

After you take action, please take a moment to spread the word by forwarding this email to 3 of your friends.

Thank you,

Debra, Nick, Jacqui, Jessica, Hayley, Jess, Mich, Amy and the Walk Free Team
Walk Free is a movement of people everywhere, fighting to end one of the world’s greatest evils: Modern slavery.